Irritant
Irritant , adjective
[Late Latin irritants, -antis, present participle of irritare to make null, from Latin irritus void; pref. ir- not + ratus established.]
(Scots Law) Rendering null and void; conditionally invalidating.
The states elected Harry, Duke of Anjou, for their king, with this clause irritant; that, if he did violate any part of his oath, the people should owe him no allegiance.
Irritant , adjective
[Latin irritans, -antis, present participle of irritare: compare French irritant. See Irritate to excite.]
Irritating; producing irritation or inflammation.
Irritant , noun
[Compare French irritant.]
1.
That which irritates or excites.
2.
(Physiology & Medicine) Any agent by which irritation is produced; as, a chemical irritant; a mechanical or electrical irritant.
3.
(Toxicology) A poison that produces inflammation.
Collocations (2)
Counter irritant , See under Counter.
Pure irritant (Toxicology) , a poison that produces inflammation without any corrosive action upon the tissues.